Matthew Citriglia

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Welcome to #SommChat everyone! Tell your friends to join us to learn from Master #Sommelier and #Wine Mentor Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor fr @SGWineSpirits!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: We’d like to introduce you to @WineMentor #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: We're about ready to dive in w/questions, so shout out to Master #Sommelier and #Wine Mentor Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor to say hello & so he knows you're here! #WineWednesday #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Don't forget that EVERY tweet during this chat should include the #SommChat hashtag in order for everyone to see it!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: As we ask @WineMentor our Qs, you can ask Master #Sommelier and #Wine Mentor Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor your Qs as well! He'll do his best to answer all Qs in the order they come #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: W so many participants lots of gr8 Q's R asked! Even if u dont ask 1--give a S/O 2 @keepercoll & @WineMentor 2 let us know u R here! #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Let's start talking #wine with from Master #Sommelier and #Wine Mentor Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor #WineWednesday #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor How did you know you wanted to become a part of the #wine business? #SommChat

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat I didn’t. I went to school for electrical engineering, but decided sitting in a cubical under florescent lights wasn’t for me. So I stayed in the wine business until I could find a real job… and am still looking

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Can you describe your position as a #wine educator? #SommChat

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat My primary responsibility is to ensure that SGWS sales consultants have fundamental base knowledge. Currently, certifications are the focus, so I educate the sales force and proctor WSET L2 and L3 Wine, Sake, Spirits; CMS Introductory Courses: French Wine Scholar

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: do you sell #wine in your position or just educate @WineMentor

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat Those who educate for the sake of education will not be employee long. Education should be set up to support and drive sales.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm do you sell #wine in your position or just educate @WineMentor

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat Those who educate for the sake of education will not be employee long. Education should be set up to support and drive sales.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm Do you only educate for SGWS in the #Chicago area or do you travel and educate as well? Can a SGWS customer working in a resto ask to attend you training @WineMentor

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat My day job is Director of Education for SGWS in Florida. I also help proctor Court of Master Sommelier courses and exams around the country. Depending on the training customers are welcome to attend any seminars.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @WineMentor What is your past experience in retail ownership? How did this help you in the #wine business? #SommChat

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat I got my start in the wine business as a retailer - very young. The competition as retailer forced me to not only learn much more about wine, but also how to sell it, market it and make money at it. I learned very early that my success would not be determined by how much I knew about wine, but how I used that information to satisfy my customers.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: .@WineMentor you have been a featured speaker @TEXSOM can you share what you think makes TEXSOM a unique Conference? #SommChat

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor:#sommchat There are many things that make texsom unique. First @winejames and @drewhendricksms who created the event. It is industry focused education driven by texsom and not suppliers or wineries. They keep the event relevant and select exceptional speakers.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm if you were not educating about #wine what else would you like to do in the wine biz @WineMentor ?

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat Motivating a sales team whether it is a team of somms or a team of sales consultants on the street.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @WineMentor Can you tell us more about your #winery sales background? #SommChat

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat I started in sales as a retailer, then progressed into on premise as a server, and eventually into wholesale as a street sales person, and finally into sales management. I was never a believer in education for the sake of education. I was always curious and wanted...

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat... to learn, but at the end of the day, I mostly wanted to know how this information would help me make a sale or create a better sales presentation or help train the waitstaff. Education became the foundation of sales for me.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm Can you share some top #restaurant staff training tips? How often do you recommend training and for how long? Any max #wines per training session @WineMentor

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat first keep is short, focused and consistent. You are better off doing 1-20 minute training every day than 1-2hr training once a week. Consistent and daily is the key. Max number of wines 4 per session. Even when I do 2 hours sessions I limit it to 8 wines

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @WineMentor Would you ever want to own your own #winery one day? Why or why not? #SommChat

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat Absolutely not! nor do I wish to open a restaurant. I know enough about these businesses to understand they are a tremendous amount of work and require deep financial support to be successful. Our industry is glamorized too much and this is not my hobby.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @WineMentor You became a Master #Sommelier in 2002, what was your preparation for the #MS exam then and do you feel the process has changed much since then? If so how?

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat My preparation for the MS was sitting in my basement and drinking for many years :)... The process has changed and has remained the same. It is similar in the daily dedication and curiosity to answer the questions why does this beverage taste this way....

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat... It is different as there is more information, but easier access to that info. I remember trying to learn about greek wine. I made a long distance call via a landline connected to a wall to the greek agricultural department who's number I found by going to the library

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @WineMentor do you feel that becoming a Master #Sommelier changed your career and if so how?

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat Becoming a MS changed nothing. The process of becoming a MS changed EVERYTHING! I learned so much about myself and this industry and hospitality... The process created my success and opened doors....

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat ... Having the pin is just icing on the cake. Those who focus on the process will be successful in this industry - pin or no pin.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm is your education only in a classroom setting for SGWS or do you go with reps also on the sales floor @WineMentor ?

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat The position is developing, but currently 90% is classroom setting for SGWS employees. My goal is to develop it to include a greater amount of tailored programs for on and off premise.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm any best practices that you can share IYO on #socialmedia dos and donts for industry professionals? How do you feel SM have affected the #wine industry positively and negatively @WineMentor ?

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat I am not a social media expert. It is like a second job and I find no joy in it. The constant one upping and need to be famous doesn't fit who I am....

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat ... I think SM can be very positive in this type of form where people are sharing best practices, but most of what I endconter keeps me away from it.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @WineMentor What have you learned from being a #wine educator and #wine mentor? #SommChat

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat That I can and do learn from everyone, especially those who know very little. It is their curiosity and fresh look at something they have little knowledge of that provides fresh perspective and everyday relevance.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @WineMentor When you're not drinking #wine, what are you drinking? #SommChat

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat Mezcal or gin - Mezcal old fashion and last word are my two favorite cocktails

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Time to wrap up! Hope you enjoyed this hour of #wine talk with from Master #Sommelier and #Wine Mentor Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor #WineWednesday #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: It was great to have from Master #Sommelier and #Wine Mentor Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor join us today for #SommChat. We hope everyone learned as much as we did! #WineWednesday

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Please join us in thanking from Master #Sommelier and #Wine Mentor Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor for his time on #SommChat

Matthew Citriglia @WineMentor: #sommchat This was a ton of fun. Thank you for all the great questions.